The Aussie Wedgetail has come to Red Flag 2017-1 and has provided advanced C2 and support to a fifth generation enabled air combat force.

F-35s, F-22s and advanced legacy aircraft like Typhoons have been supported throughout by the most advanced air battle management system operating today.

And it is being operated by the RAAF and not the USAF; and the RAF is also considering its acquisition.

Instead of slow rolling an upgrade of AWACS, it is time to leap ahead and move beyond the 360 degree radar dome technology and embrace a very different concept of air battle management, one good for today and one very integratable into the tron warfare and distributed operations of the future.

In the following report by the RAAF, their recent participation in Red Flag 17-1 is highlighted.

After three weeks of high-intensity missions, Exercise Red Flag 17-1 has concluded.

A 200-strong contingent of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel deployed to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada with colleagues from the United States and United Kingdom. This year, Exercise Red Flag 17-1, also witnessed the United States Air Force (USAF) debut its F-35A Lightning II in the exercise.